Wednesday Briefing: FPC Cheer Fund-Raiser, Boulder Rock Drive Road Closure, Paws to Read, Chekhov at 160
Chekhov, chronicler of souls in distress, was born on this day 160 years ago.
Today: Mostly sunny in the morning, then mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Showers likely in the evening, then chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s. Northeast winds around 5 mph shifting to the north after midnight. Chance of rain 70 percent. See the latest National Weather Service-Jacksonville Briefing here.Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.Today’s National Commemorations.Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.Drought Index: 178Global Warming: The daily carbon count.A.Word.A.Day from Wordsmith.org. Today’s word: chrestomathy.The Live Community CalendarToday’s jail bookings.
Today’s Briefing: Quick Links
In Flagler and Palm Coast:
Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.
Visitations for Logan Goodman, the 14-year-old Palm Coast student at Indian Trails Middle School who was killed while riding a motorcycle as a passenger in the Woodlands last week, are scheduled at Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Logan’s obituary, written by his mother, is here.
The Blue Power 2020 Action Forum, 12:30 p.m. at 2 Office Park Dr., Suite D, Palm Coast (directly across PC Pkwy (West) from the community center. Come and join other progressive Democrats to discuss local, state and national issues, and propose actions to influence elected leaders. The Forum is open and informal and all opinions and ideas are welcomed. This is your opportunity to meet and lend your voice and knowledge to people who share your values. For more information, contact Mike Cocchiola, [email protected] The Blue Power forum meets every Wednesday. Republicans, Independents and Whigs welcome.
Paws to Read at the Flagler County Public Library 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast, in the Children’s Department. The Flagler County Public Library in partnership with the Flagler Humane Society offer the opportunity for kids ages 4-8 to read to a real dog. Every Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. First Come – First Serve. Contact: Alyssa Gilbert or Theresa Ten Eyck at 386-446-6763 or email: [email protected]
Emergency road closure at 44 Boulder Rock Drive: The City of Palm Coast Utility Department will be conducting an emergency sewer main repair in front of 44 Boulder Rock Dr, beginning on 1/27/2020. The road will be closed at that location and will be impassable. We are aiming to have the road paved and open for traffic by Jan. 30. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Eric Serrano at 386-986-2372.
Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by
going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):
In Florida and in State Government:
Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.
OLDER INMATES AT ISSUE: The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (SB 574), filed by Chairman Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would create a program that could help clear the way for releasing inmates who are at least 70 years old and meet other criteria. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
EDUCATION BUDGET TEED UP: The Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to discuss fiscal 2020-2021 budget issues for the Department of Education, the Office of Early Learning and the state university system’s Board of Governors. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
VISIT FLORIDA EXTENSION SOUGHT: The Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (SB 362), filed by Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, that would extend the legal authority for the tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida until Oct. 1, 2028. Visit Florida, which has been embroiled in controversy in recent years, will be eliminated on July 1 unless it is reauthorized by the Legislature. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
CONSTITUTION PANEL TARGETED: The Senate Rules Committee will take up a proposal (SJR 142), filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that seeks to abolish the Constitution Revision Commission. The commission put seven measures on the 2018 ballot but drew controversy, in part, because it linked unrelated issues in constitutional amendments. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
MEDICAID EXPANSION SOUGHT: Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, Rep. Nicholas Duran, D-Miami, and representatives of advocacy groups will hold a news conference to call for Florida to expand Medicaid eligibility. (Wednesday, 2:30 p.m., fourth floor, the Capitol.)
GENETIC INFORMATION ISSUE TEED UP: The House will hold a floor session and is slated to consider a bill (HB 1189) that would prevent insurance companies from using customers’ genetic information to make policy decisions about life insurance, long-term care insurance and disability insurance. The bill is a priority of Rep. Chris Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican who is slated to become House speaker after the November elections. Federal law already prevents health insurers from using genetic information in underwriting policies and in setting premiums. But the prohibition doesn’t apply to life insurance or long-term care coverage. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)
SENATE HOLDS FLOOR SESSION: The Senate will hold a floor session and could vote on a proposal (SB 172), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would block local governments from regulating over-the-counter drugs and cosmetics. The bill stems from a decision by Key West to ban certain types of sunscreen because of concerns they could damage coral reefs. Bradley contends the state should encourage the use of sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)
ABORTION RIGHTS BACKED: The Interfaith Coalition for Reproductive Health and Justice and Catholics for Choice will hold a news conference and are expected to discuss their opposition to legislation that would require parental consent before minors can have abortions. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., fourth floor, the Capitol.)
RED MASS CELEBRATED: Catholic bishops and state leaders are expected to take part in the annual Red Mass, with a reception to follow. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, 900 West Tennessee St., Tallahassee.)
–Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive
Statista’s Chart of the Day:
Record Number Of Bombs Dropped On Afghanistan In 2019: “18 years ago, U.S. forces and their allies from the Northern Alliance rolled into Kabul. Today, America’s longest war is still dragging on and half of Afghanistan has been retaken by the Taliban. ISIS have also become more active in the country and thousands of U.S. troops are still serving there in an attempt to contain growing levels of extremism and violence. Although the war has made fewer headlines in recent years, the U.S. has never dropped as many bombs on the country as it did this year. U.S. Air Forces Central Command data shows that coalition aircraft (excluding the Afghan Air Force) dropped 7,423 weapons in 2019, slightly higher than the 7,362 dropped in 2018.”
Announcements/Press Releases:
Flagler Palm Coast High School’s Cheerleaders are hosting a Cheer Clinic for those who want to learn to cheer, jump, do stunts and dances, from 9 a.m. to noon, February 15, at the FPC 800 Gym in back of the school, by the FTI entrance off State Road 100. It’s for ages 5-17, with a performance for parents and guardians at noon. Registration is $25 per participant with pre-registration, or $30 for walk-ins. You can register easily online here and contact [email protected] with any questions. Wear shorts, t-shirts and athletic shoes.
Through April 4, Palm Coast Mayor’s 90/90 Challenge: Get outdoors and get active – join us for the Mayor’s 90/90 Challenge! The challenge is to move at least a mile a day for the 90 days from Jan. 6 to April 4. You can choose your own form of exercise. Log in to Palm Coast Connect and record your progress throughout the month. Everyone who completes the Challenge will receive a prize. Share your progress along the way on social media using #Mayors9090 and #ConnectToFitness. More info: www.palmcoastconnect.com and 386-986-2323.
Coming Days:
The Live Calendar is Flagler County’s and Palm Coast’s most complete, detailed and searchable community calendar of events, including culture, the performing arts, theater, government, the courts and justice system and a lot more. If you’re not listed here, you’re not getting the visibility you deserve. To include your event, please fill out this form. Any other issues, email the editor.
Jan
29
Wed
Blue Power 2020 Action Forum @ 2 Office Park Dr., Suite D, Palm Coast (directly across PC Pkwy (West) from the community center.
Jan 29 @ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Jan 29 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Paws to Read at the Flagler County Public Library 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast, in the Children’s Department. The Flagler County Public Library in partnership with the Flagler Humane Society offer the opportunity for kids ages 4-8 to read to a real dog. Every Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. First Come – First Serve. Contact: Alyssa Gilbert or Theresa Ten Eyck at 386-446-6763 or email: [email protected]
Jan
30
Thu
Widow, Widower’s Support Group @ Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy. NE.
Jan 30 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
The Widow, Widower’s Support Group meets at 10 a.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy. NE. Have you suffered the loss of your significant other? This is a chance to meet others who have had a similar loss in their life. Free but please register at www.parksandrec.fun/seniors. More info: 386-986-2323.
Jan
31
Fri
Weekend Farmers’ Markets, Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, Marineland
Jan 31 @ 6:00 am – 4:00 pm
Jan 31 @ 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
The Bunnell City Commission and its administrative staff are in a day-long retreat for goal-setting at Stewart Marchman Act Building, 301 Justice Lane, Bunnell. The retreat is open to the public and will feature a series of presentations and discussions.
Flagler Chamber 2020 Gala & Business Awards
Jan 31 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
The Flagler Chamber hosts its 2020 Gala & Business Awards at Hammock Beach Resort, 200 Ocean Crest Dr., Palm Coast, starting with drinks at 6 p.m. Tickets are $95 per member, $110 for non-members and $820 for a table of 10. Contact Melinda Rivera, Event & Marketing Coordinator; 386-437-0106
24th Annual Piano Scholars Festival, Beethoven 2020 and Piano Recital @ Elizabeth Hall, Room 100 (Lee Chapel), 421 North Woodland Boulevard, DeLand.
Jan 31 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
24th Annual Piano Scholars Festival, Beethoven 2020 and Piano Recital, 7:30 p.m., Sean Kennard, Yohann Ripert, Hannah Sun, piano, Elizabeth Hall, Room 100 (Lee Chapel), 421 North Woodland Boulevard, DeLand. All concerts are free and open to the public.
The Capitol Steps at the Flagler Auditorium @ Flagler Auditorium, 5500 State Road 100, Palm Coast.
Jan 31 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
The Capitol Steps at the Flagler Auditorium, 7:30 p.m., 5500 East Hwy 100, Palm Coast, call 386-437-7547. After appearing in several Broadway musicals, including “Follies” and “Mack and Mabel”, Rita Rudner began exploring the comedy clubs of Manhattan. She performed all over the country, filling Carnegie Hall in NY three times and the Universal Amphitheatre in L.A. twice. Rita is now officially the longest–running solo comedy show in the history of Las Vegas. Tickets $29-39.
Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony at the Jacksonville Symphony @ Jacoby Symphony Hall, Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, 300 Water Street, Suite 200, Jacksonville.
Jan 31 @ 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Feb
1
Sat
Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s Creative Bazaar @ 1500 Central Avenue, Town Center, Palm Coast.
Feb 1 @ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Creative Bazaar: Arts and Crafts Flea Market at the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s venue at 1500 Central Avenue, open to shoppers from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., open to anyone who wants to sell, for $25 for a 10×10 space if you’re a PCAF member, $35 for non-members. Ask about canopy and table rental. Call 225-4394. Creative Bazaar is held every first Saturday of the month.
Brent Jones Gospel Music Concert @ Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 US Highway 1, Ormond Beach.
Feb 1 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Feb 1 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
The Rotary Club of Flagler Beach hosts the annual Race of the Runways for Rotary 5k Run/Walk at 6 p.m. The event will take place at the Flagler Executive Airport located at 201 Airport Rd., Palm Coast. This is an evening race on the tarmac of the Flagler Executive Airport. The course is marked by airplane landing lights and the search light of a circling helicopter. Participants are encouraged to add to the fun by wearing glow-in-the-dark clothing and accessories. There will be a prize for the best ‘bling’. Awards will be given after the race for first place male and female overall, masters, grand masters and senior grand masters, as well as the top three in 14 male and female age categories. There will be event t-shirts for the first 200 participants as well as a unique airplane themed participation medal. Participants are encouraged to walk or run every year and collect all the various airplane medals. There is also a pizza party with music and fun after the event. Non-race participants can purchase tickets to the after party for $5.00 per person and join the fun. Race packets will be available the night before the race on Friday, January 31, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the race location in the admin building of the Flagler Executive Airport located at 201 Airport Rd. For more information write [email protected] or Roy Sieger at 386-313-4220. Thank you and enjoy your weekend! Cindy
Feb 1 @ 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Feb
3
Mon
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell
Feb 3 @ 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
For Palm Coast Alateen Sereniteen and Al-Anon meetings, go here.
For help with alcoholism or if you think you have a problem with alcohol you can contact the Flagler County Helpline at 386-445-help (386-445-4357). SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, SAMHSA will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. SAMHSA can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.
Flagler County Commission @ Government Services Building, 1769 E Moody Blvd., Bunnell.
Feb 3 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Contact the commissioners by email:
See the Flagler County District Map.
In Court: Cornelius Baker Death-Penalty Phase @ Courtroom 101, Flagler County Courthouse
Feb 3 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
See:
Nar-Anon Meeting for Families and Friends of Addicts @ St Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church, 303 Palm Coast Pkwy.
Feb 3 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Nar-Anon Family Group for those affected by someone else’s addiction meets at 6 p.m. at St Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church, 303 Palm Coast Pkwy. There are no dues or fees. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. We’re never affiliated with any other organization or outside entity. Do you need Nar-Anon? Ask yourself these questions.
Addiction is a family disease. It affects the relationships of those close to the addict: parents, spouses, siblings, children, longtime friends, and employers. If someone’s addiction is affecting you, first you must help yourself. Nar-Anon is a twelve step support group for families and friends of addicts. There are no dues or fees to join. Just come to a meeting. You will hear others, who are going through similar problems, talk about how they cope and find recovery. Watch the video:
Palm Coast Alateen Sereniteen and Al-Anon Meetings
Feb 3 @ 8:00 pm – 9:15 pm
Palm Coast Alateen Sereniteen and Al-Anon meetings: Alateen, part of Al-Anon Family Groups, is for teens bothered by someone else’s drinking. The group meets at 8 p.m. every Monday at Advent Health, 60 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast, at the south entrance, in meeting room D. Al-Anon meets at the same time. For more information about Alateen or Al-Anon, call toll free 1-888-4AL-ANON, or visit www.al-anon.org. Note: All Aalteen meetings are only open to teenagers who have been affected by another person’s drinking.
For AA and NA meetings in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell, go here.
Feb
4
Tue
Flagler County Housing and Homelessness Taskforce @ Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast.
Feb 4 @ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
The Flagler County Homeless & Housing Taskforce, a part of FlaglerCares, meets from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast.
Flagler County School Board Agenda Workshop @ Government Services Building, 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell, Room 3, 3rd floor.
Feb 4 @ 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
The Flagler County School Board meets for an agenda workshop at 3 p.m. Training Room 3, 3rd floor, Government Services Building, 1769 E Moody Blvd., Bunnell. The meeting is an information workshop only. The agenda workshop focuses on items the board will take action on at its next regular meeting.
The school board’s full agenda is accessible here.
See previous board meeting videos here.
The School Board members and their email addresses:
Flagler Beach’s Planning and Architectural Review (PAR) Board @ City Hall, 105 S 2nd St Flagler Beach.
Feb 4 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Flagler Beach’s Planning and Architectural Review (PAR) Board meets at City Hall at 5:30 p.m., 105 S 2nd St Flagler Beach.
The Planning and Architectural Review Board consists of seven residents:
Paul Chestnut, Term Length: May 10, 2017 – May 9, 2020Don Deal, Term Length: Feb. 26, 2019 – Feb. 25, 2022Catherine Feind, Term Length: May 10, 2017 – May 9, 2020Butch Naylor, Term Length: Feb. 26, 2019- Feb. 25, 2022Joseph Pozzuoli, Term Length: May 10, 2017 – May 9, 2020Roseanne Stocker, Term Length: Feb. 26, 2019 – Feb. 25, 2022Joann Soman, Term Length: May 26, 2018- May 25, 2021
Chess on the Porch at the Humidor @ European Village, 101 Palm Harbor, Palm Coast.
Feb 4 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Feb 4 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Feb 4 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Feb 4 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Hammock Community Association holds its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Hammock Community Center, 79 MalaCompra Road, Palm Coast.
To join the association as a member, click here.
Becoming a member of The Hammock Community Association ensures that you are kept informed on what is going on in the community such as:
upcoming development projects, including commercial, gated communities or expansions to existing resorts.
new ordinances that may affect the quality of life in The Hammock.
invitations to monthly meetings where you can hear, first hand, about information that will shape your community.
Feb
5
Wed
Palm Coast Code Enforcement Board
Feb 5 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
The Palm Coast Code Enforcement Board meets at 10 a.m. at City Hall’s Intracoastal Meeting Room, 160 Lake Avenue. The meeting is open to the public.
Blue Power 2020 Action Forum @ 2 Office Park Dr., Suite D, Palm Coast (directly across PC Pkwy (West) from the community center.
Feb 5 @ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Feb 5 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Paws to Read at the Flagler County Public Library 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast, in the Children’s Department. The Flagler County Public Library in partnership with the Flagler Humane Society offer the opportunity for kids ages 4-8 to read to a real dog. Every Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. First Come – First Serve. Contact: Alyssa Gilbert or Theresa Ten Eyck at 386-446-6763 or email: [email protected]
Feb
6
Thu
Widow, Widower’s Support Group @ Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy. NE.
Feb 6 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
The Widow, Widower’s Support Group meets at 10 a.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy. NE. Have you suffered the loss of your significant other? This is a chance to meet others who have had a similar loss in their life. Free but please register at www.parksandrec.fun/seniors. More info: 386-986-2323.
Palm Coast Democratic Club Meeting @ African American Cultural Society, 4422 North U.S. Highway 1, Palm Coast (just north of Whiteview Parkway).
Feb 6 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
The Palm Coast Democratic Club meets at 6:30 p.m. at the African American Cultural Society, 4422 North U.S. Highway 1, Palm Coast (just north of Whiteview Parkway). A meet and greet begins at 6:30 p.m. with the business meeting starting at 7. This month our speakers include Carla Christianson from the League of Women Voters, and a representative from the Joan Anthony campaign for Circuit Judge of the 7th Judicial Circuit of Florida – Group 14.
Feb
7
Fri
Weekend Farmers’ Markets, Flagler Beach, Palm Coast, Marineland
Feb 7 @ 6:00 am – 4:00 pm
Feb 7 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Feb 7 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
First Friday at Flagler Beach’s Veterans Park, with vendors, games, food, music and other delights, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Feb
8
Sat
Midnight Fishing Frenzy @ Flagler Beach Pier
Feb 8 @ 12:01 am – 6:00 am
Midnight Fishing Frenzy at the Flagler Beach Pier. The frenzy is set for every second Saturday of the month, midnight to 6 a.m. For any questions, please contact the Pier bait shop at 386-517-2436.
Second Saturday Plant Sale at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park @ 6400 North Oceanshore Blvd.
Feb 8 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Second Saturday Plant Sale at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, join the Friends of Washington Oaks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greenhouse area. With Master Gardeners on hand, you are sure to get the personal attention and advice you are looking for. Specializing in Florida friendly and natives, with some unique and hard to find plants for your home and yard. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 6400 North Oceanshore Blvd.
Feb
10
Mon
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell
Feb 10 @ 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
For Palm Coast Alateen Sereniteen and Al-Anon meetings, go here.
For help with alcoholism or if you think you have a problem with alcohol you can contact the Flagler County Helpline at 386-445-help (386-445-4357). SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, SAMHSA will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. SAMHSA can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.
Flagler Cares Coalition Community Forum on Mental Health @ Flagler County Association of Realtors, 4101 E Moody Blvd, Bunnell.
Feb 10 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The Flagler Cares Coalition meets at 3 p.m. at the Flagler County Association of Realtors (FCAR), 4101 E Moody Blvd, Bunnell. This is a community forum on mental health and substance abuse services in Flagler County as a promised follow-up to the Elected Official Roundtable held November 21.
On the agenda:
Feb 10 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
The Flagler County Land Acquisition Committee meeting is cancelled. The committee was to meet at 3:30 p.m. at the Government Services Building, First Floor Conference Room, 1769 E Moody Blvd., Bldg 2, Bunnell. The committee is an advisory board to the county commission on the acquisition and management of environmentally sensitive lands, recreation, and water recharge areas. The committee is scheduled to meet once a month, but seldom does.
Committee members:
Anne Wilson – 05/06/1996 to 05/17/2019Walter Mahler – 03/02/2015 to 03/02/2021Brynn Newton – 02/06/1989 to 02/01/2019Ann Moore – 04/20/2009 to 04/20/2021Mike Kuypers – 06/19/1989 to 08/03/2021Richard Hamilton – 10/20/2008 to 11/07/2020
Flagler County Library Board of Trustees @ 2500 Palm Coast Parkway.
Feb 10 @ 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm
The board members and their terms are as follows:Chairman Jim Ulsamer – 07/09/2007 to 07/09/2019County Commissioner David Sullivan – to 11/30/2019Sharon Atack – 06/07/1993 to 07/07/2020Jan Cullinane – 03/02/2009 to 03/02/2021Armando Mustiga – 05/16/2011 to 12/12/2018Bernard Barczak – 03/01/2019 to 03/01/2022George Hanns – 05/01/2017 to 05/01/2020Reginald Kirven – 09/05/18 to 09/05/21
Buddy Taylor Middle School Advisory Council @ Eagle's Quest Media Center, BTMS, 4500 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast.
Feb 10 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Feb 10 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Feb 10 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The Nar-Anon Family Group for those affected by someone else’s addiction meets at 6 p.m. at St Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church, 303 Palm Coast Pkwy. There are no dues or fees. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. We’re never affiliated with any other organization or outside entity. Do you need Nar-Anon? Ask yourself these questions.
Addiction is a family disease. It affects the relationships of those close to the addict: parents, spouses, siblings, children, longtime friends, and employers. If someone’s addiction is affecting you, first you must help yourself. Nar-Anon is a twelve step support group for families and friends of addicts. There are no dues or fees to join. Just come to a meeting. You will hear others, who are going through similar problems, talk about how they cope and find recovery. Watch the video:
Bunnell City Commission Meeting @ 201 West Moody Boulevard.
Feb 10 @ 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm
The city commissioners’ email:
Feb 10 @ 8:00 pm – 9:15 pm
Palm Coast Alateen Sereniteen and Al-Anon meetings: Alateen, part of Al-Anon Family Groups, is for teens bothered by someone else’s drinking. The group meets at 8 p.m. every Monday at Advent Health, 60 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast, at the south entrance, in meeting room D. Al-Anon meets at the same time. For more information about Alateen or Al-Anon, call toll free 1-888-4AL-ANON, or visit www.al-anon.org. Note: All Aalteen meetings are only open to teenagers who have been affected by another person’s drinking.
For AA and NA meetings in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell, go here.
Feb
11
Tue
Flagler County Affordable Housing Committee @ Government Services Building
Feb 11 @ 8:30 am – 9:45 am
The
Feb 11 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Flagler’s Community Traffic Safety Team meets at 9 a.m. at Flagler Technical Institute, 5400 E. Hwy 100, just west of Flagler Palm Coast High School. The meeting is open to all who have a concern with road safety.
Palm Coast City Council Workshop @ City Hall
Feb 11 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Feb 11 @ 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm
See full agendas here.
Feb
12
Wed
Public Safety Coordinating Council @ Emergency Operations Center
Feb 12 @ 8:45 am – 10:00 am
Feb 12 @ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.
Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.
Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of Dec. 16 2019:
Readers reflect on the power of Neil Peart, the poignancy of memory loss, and ‘In God We Trust’
I knew there were millions of rabid Rush fans who gush over anything and everything about the world-renowned progressive rock band. What I didn’t know was how many of those fans viewed Neil Peart as more than merely a rock 'n’ roll drummer.
“Jerry, I just read your piece on Neil Peart in the Aurora Beacon News. Being a lifelong Rush fan, and fan of both Neil’s music (the lyrics and passionate drum beats) and his books, I simply loved how you centered the theme around ‘Free Will’ and ‘This life is enough for me,’” wrote Joe Potter. “Neil’s death was a shock and saddened us all. What was unexpected was the reaction throughout the world. Who knew he has such a following?”
Peart, who died from brain cancer Jan. 7, had an incredibly loyal following, I’m told.
“Thank you for expressing so eloquently, publicly, what so many Rush fans feel in Mr. Peart’s passing,” wrote Tom McDonald, of Chicago. “I was especially pleased you highlighted ‘Freewill.’ I have leveraged the lessons in those lyrics many times, in my own life, and as a father. I was 12 when ‘Permanent Waves’ was released, the same age my daughter is now.”
“I have spent the last week-plus listening to nothing but Rush while in the gym, gaining even more appreciation for the lyrics,” he added.
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 06: Musician Neil Peart of the band Rush performs at the Nokia Theatre on May 6, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images) ** TCN OUT ** ORG XMIT: 80997333 (Jesse Grant / Getty Images)
“I appreciated you conveying the spirit of the man beyond the ‘rock star,’” Rick Zielie wrote. “Also, relating your personal journey as a ‘knucklehead’ in the 1980s discovering meaning/impact of Neil’s lyrics related directly to mine.”
Greg Hajduk, of South Haven, played drums from 1965 to 2006, until his hands gave out.
“I learned so much from my drumming idol Neil Peart, and admired him very much,” he said. “What an influence he had on many drummers around the world!”
What an influence Peart had on people around the world. My column also found its way to a few Rush fan websites.
“Neil was a painfully quiet but beautifully loud rock 'n’ roll poet,” said Frank Borrelli, of San Francisco. “From all of his fans, thank you for reminding us why we loved his thoughtful poems through rock lyrics.”
Memory loss
“I am 66, and constantly worry when I can't remember something that dementia or Alzheimer's is creeping in. I suppose I could get a cognitive test, but then I ask myself do I really want to know. If it is, what will I do about it? So many questions,” wrote Barb C.
“I myself experienced a memory lapse just yesterday,” said Mary G., 64, whose father died in 2012 from Alzheimer’s disease-related causes. “My memory lapse creeped me out.”
Joe Mays, the "Peanut Man," holds the hand of his old friend Mary Adams, of Lake Station, in his daughter's Valparaiso home. (Jerry Davich / Post-Tribune)
Wendy M., of Valparaiso, shared information about public meetings hosted under the auspices of Alzheimer's and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana. The agency’s mission is to provide support and education of families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementia. (For more info, visit www.alzni.org.)
Meetings are held on the second Friday of every month at the Porter County Foundation building, 1401 Calumet Ave. in Valparaiso. Another opportunity for a safe place support setting for a caregiver and his or her loved one is the Porter County Memory Cafe, held on the third Tuesday of every month at the VNA administration building, 501 Marquette St. in Valparaiso. (For more info, visit the agency’s Facebook page or call 219-462-5195.)
“We have been attending (meetings) the last few months. We are amazed at what is in the normal range of forgetfulness, just like the concerns your column mentions,” she said.
Three Chairs
“I also realize how as people age, access to some of the outlets mentioned is more difficult. With that in mind, we’ve launched a new service to help combat loneliness in seniors. It’s called Three Chairs and we need beta testers,” he wrote.
The Three Chairs concept connects seniors with each other over the phone based on common interests. Each conversation is moderated, with no time limit, and the only necessary device is a phone, whether it’s a landline, flip phone or smartphone.
“We call you,” Leach said.
“The impetus behind the idea came after seeing my own grandparents’ age, volunteering for Meals on Wheels, and reading research that only supported what I’d seen firsthand,” he said. “Namely, that loneliness is as harmful, and even as deadly, as obesity, diabetes and smoking.”
A poster with "In God We Trust" on it hangs in the main hallway of Larkspur Middle School in Virginia Beach, Va. (MIKE HEFFNER / Associated Press)
In God we Trust
“Jerry, thanks for the piece on ‘In God We Trust’ plastered on public school classroom walls. Actually, given the meager level of support for public education in Indiana by a Republican governor and a Republican super-majority in the legislature, ‘God Help Us’ would be more appropriate,” wrote John F., of Valparaiso.
An update: Last week, Indiana lawmakers have rolled back the proposal aimed to require this poster in all public and charter schools. The Senate Education Committee modified the proposed bill to make the poster optional before voting to advance it to the full Senate for consideration.
Phil’s ‘flip side’
Paul, you’re not the first reader to mention this difference between me and fellow Post-Tribune columnist Phil Potempa. He was one of my mentors when I began writing stories 25 years ago. Phil’s formula for success is tastefully spiced with positivity. Mine is a bit tainted with cynicism. Thanks for sampling both recipes.
Solo Atlantic sailing: Lessons learned en-route to Madeira
Could you take on the Atlantic Ocean alone? Ed Gorman headed off on a single-handed cruise to Madeira to find out just that
All photos: Ed Gorman
It was just before midnight in the eastern fringes of the Atlantic Ocean, about 130 miles south-west of Cape Finisterre. To my right I could see an ominous wall of dense black cloud, switching off the stars as it advanced at sea level towards me.
The waiting game was filling me with dread. “What’s in that thing?” I thought as I furled the genoa, set the Solent staysail and put two reefs in the main. I was on the wind in 20 knots of true wind, but expecting the breeze to veer as a front came through. First, the breeze clocked up to 23, then 25 knots and the sea state turned surprisingly violent. A few minutes later the cockpit display was showing 27 knots and Albertine was charging ahead as I wrestled the third reef into place.
Then the shift came through as if God himself had flicked a switch and the wind increased again. At this point I completely lost my bearings – my windward from my leeward, my port from my starboard – as Albertine’s bow ploughed towards the Portuguese coast. Cue a Chinese gybe, headsail flogging, sheets thrashing.
The hydraulic autopilot was used for long periods of self-steering, which meant heavy reliance on batteries and recharging
I shouted aloud at my incompetence and took a couple of deep breaths before finally setting her up on a starboard-hand reach. “I am exhausted, bewildered and very unimpressed with my response. What would I do in 37 knots?” I noted in my journal as we powered south towards Madeira.
The idea of going solo on the ocean had always been a dream for me. As a boy growing up in the 1960s in landlocked Warwickshire I devoured stories about Francis Chichester, Robin Knox-Johnston and Chay Blyth. Then as a journalist with The Times, I covered Ellen MacArthur’s spectacular sailing career and the equally extensive exploits of men like Mike Golding and Francis Joyon.
Looking back, I used to think I understood the challenges and difficulties those people faced. But I was wrong. Only by doing it, even on relatively small scale (and not even racing) can you understand the psychological pressures that solo ocean sailing can bring.
Article continues below…
You’ve got the plan, you’ve got the ideal offshore cruising yacht, you’ve got the time window – you’re set to…
On a cloudy midsummer afternoon, my best friend, Harry Scott, and I waved goodbye to our worried mothers and sailed…
At heart it is a romantic notion: the idea of one person on a sailing boat, completely free on the vast expanse of the ocean, looking after oneself and the boat 24 hours a day, travelling alone for hundreds or thousands of miles and dealing with whatever the weather throws at you. There’s a purity to it, not unlike solo mountaineering. To me, it always felt like the ultimate test.
For years I sailed mainly solo around the coasts of Britain, Ireland, north-west Spain and Greece in a succession of cruising boats, always dropping anchor at night or finding a harbour to settle down in. Long passages were completed with at least one other crew on board. The notion of going offshore day after day, and doing it alone, remained a distant prospect.
Then I happened upon the website of an east coast cruiser named James Tomlinson. An experienced coastal sailor in his early 60s, like me, he had always wondered what it would be like to go solo properly. So last year he did it. At the helm of his Westerly Typhoon, Talisker 1, he sailed from Suffolk to Madeira and back via the Azores.
Gorman’s route tracker shows how he temporarily looped back to the Azores for repairs to problem batteries
I read his blogs and watched his videos of an ambitious 4,000-mile round trip. He seemed to love every minute of it and what’s more he looked completely calm and in control at all times. I found myself thinking: “If he can do it…”
Having made up my mind in an instant I ran into the kitchen to inform my bewildered wife: I was finally going to sail solo on the Atlantic.
To make it a reality, the first thing I did was book her a flight to Madeira on a date in early June. From that moment on the flight became the anchor point of the whole adventure.
I had to be in Madeira by 10 June, when we would have a week’s holiday together on the boat come what may. It sounds simple. Just sail alone to the latitude of southern Morocco and back, but I was to learn that this would be a demanding proposition from the moment I started planning it.
Two years earlier I’d bought a new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389. Albertine was quick, nimble and fun to sail. With a deep keel, single deep fin rudder and a chine in the after sections of the hull, she goes to windward beautifully and surfs fast downwind. She came with a fully battened main and 135% genoa and a Code Zero. To that I added an A3 asymmetric reaching spinnaker in a cruising chute.
Reality bites
As I began my planning, I quickly realised how much I needed to add to make Albertine fit for offshore long-distance solo sailing. My longest trip alone in the yacht so far had been from Falmouth to Cork – about 30 hours – now I was planning for anything up to 11 days non-stop.
Starting to think though safety issues, what could go wrong, and what spares you need, you very quickly have a huge to-do list. The extra gear I bought for Atlantic sailing was a storm jib, a third reef in the main, an inner forestay and Solent sail on hanks for big breeze upwind, a radar unit, an EPIRB and handheld GPS, spare fuel cans and the hardware for the satellite communications system IridiumGo! on which I could access the PredictWind weather service.
Gorman makes his mark on the harbour wall at Porto Santo
Unlike the hardcore long-distance sailors I would go on to meet in the Azores, I planned to rely on my hydraulic integrated autopilot for self-steering, as opposed to a wind pilot. This meant that the engine would be used for charging and the state of my batteries would become an obsession.
To go offshore for a long time (in my case it was a two-month trip altogether) you have to be ruthless. You have to cut the ties that secure you to the land and focus on one thing only: getting ready and being in place at your departure port on time.
For me this was Falmouth, where I learnt to sail as a boy and have loved ever since. I have sailed to Cornwall from my homeport of Chichester many times but this felt different. I was taking the first steps on the most ambitious voyage I had ever attempted by a long chalk.
Ed Gorman is a former Times journalist
From the moment I started beating up towards the Solent I was thinking about trying to sail the boat within itself – not pushing as I usually do – and thinking through every manoeuvre before I executed it to ensure I did not risk damaging the rig in any way. This was going to be a marathon not a sprint.
Making the leap
On the day I left the Cornish coast, the weather was foul. I had up to 25 knots across my deck as I beat out past the Lizard lost in the murk off my starboard bow. In the back of my mind I was wondering if I was about to make a complete fool of myself. But the thrill of going long-distance, single-handed was electric.
Not since I crossed the border illegally from Pakistan into Soviet-occupied Afghanistan as a young journalist in the mid-1980s had I experienced a similarly delicious combination of excitement, fear and adrenalin. I decided from the beginning of my planning phase to try and sail the 1,200 miles from Falmouth to Porto Santo, just east of Madeira, non-stop.
I had a far from ideal weather window with a slow upwind slog ahead of me and in the later stages of my eight-day voyage, a vast weather system called Storm Miguel would make its way across the North Atlantic encouraging me to get south as fast as possible. How I would cope with loneliness or manage fatigue were among the big unknowns.
‘I can’t believe I have been at sea for just over a day,’ I wrote in my journal off Ushant. ‘It feels like a lifetime. I have suffered the classic “first 48 hours” baptism with sudden mood swings – moments of joy, loneliness, frustration, resignation and then… determination.’
On the first night I caused the only damage to the sails in the entire 3,800-mile trip when a flogging jib sheet punched a small hole in the sail when I forgot to furl it inside the inner forestay while tacking to avoid a freighter. When I discovered the damage in the morning I was furious with myself for making such a basic error.
Finding a rhythm
But then I gradually settled down. I remembered, as I had planned, to check my position against landmarks on shore. It was not long before I had passed the latitude of Paris – I was sailing down the Champs Élysées! It was a simple trick to measure progress on a long journey.
For the first time in my long sailing career I managed to properly sleep. I could ‘see’ cargo ships on AIS and the alarm was working perfectly: it gave me the confidence to drift off in the saloon and I got into a pattern of sleeping for about an hour at a time, almost all of it at night. Overall I probably managed about four to five hours out of every 24 and never came to close to hallucinating through exhaustion.
Cracked off on a nice east-south-easterly breeze blowing up from Biarritz, I cruised south and came within touching distance of the Spanish coast west of La Coruña. After agonising about whether to pop into one of the Galician Rias, I decided to stick to my non-stop plan and tack back out to sea.
After nine days at sea, the island of Porto Santo was a spectacular sight off Albertine’s starboard bow
Arriving in Porto Santo was a wonderful moment; a feeling of achievement and contentment that I have rarely experienced. Like James Tomlinson and many others before me, I painted my name on the harbour wall in the traditional way. I had sailed there non-stop and discovered that precious skill in a traveller: enjoying the journey and not obsessing about arriving at my destination.
After our week’s holiday on Madeira, the trip to Santa Maria should have been straightforward but a 36-hour bout of food poisoning that took hold eight hours into the four-day voyage turned it into the journey from hell. Food poisoning and going upwind solo in a monohull in the breeze is a very bad combination.
The third leg proved the hardest psychologically. Unlike the voyage south there are no places to stop on the way back from the Azores to Falmouth and this caught me out a little. It is a 1,500-mile marathon and you are hundreds of miles off the coast. Charging problems with damaged batteries forced me to restart this leg three times and when I finally went for it, sailing to the Lizard in just under 11 days, I was permanently on edge about whether the pilot would have sufficient power.
Albertine lies to anchor in Porto Santo harbour. “Not the prettiest of spots, but that was the least of my worries. I’d got there in one piece” he recalls.
Although there were some huge downers (not least having to turn back to the Azores for the second time, sailing 350 miles in the process) there were exceptional moments and long periods when I tasted the joy of the soloist often accompanied by music and sea birds, as well as the dolphins, porpoises, plus the odd shark and fin whale that swam alongside.
On reflection
‘Sitting in the cockpit, it’s a beautiful evening with the ever-present shearwaters gliding and wheeling around the boat on a deep blue ocean in a light northerly breeze,’ I wrote as I finally cleared the Azores on the way north. Watching the stunning island of São Miguel gradually dissolve behind me; the rich greens of the pastures and reds of the dramatic rock faces on the cliffs steadily draining of colour as Albertine heads north-west at 40° apparent.’
I understood that solitude is the joy of being alone and loneliness is the pain of isolation, and that the former reigns when things are going well, and the latter grabs you when the going is harder: a nasty head sea, an awful tacking angle, an engine that doesn’t start, a battery that won’t hold power or a body afflicted by sickness.
The author on the pontoon next to Albertine at the well-run and quiet marina at Quinta do Lorde in Madeira
When I got back the first question from many was “What next?” My answer was unequivocal. I had loved – and occasionally hated – my experience alone on the Atlantic but, having done it, I have well and truly scratched that itch and will not go back alone.
What I learned from solo Atlantic sailing
Mood swings: The trick is not to get too carried away by the highs and not sink too low in the troughs. That way you can navigate a psychological middle way that is more balanced.
Sleep: The most important ingredient for energy, optimism and enjoyment. Whenever you can get it as a soloist, take it.
Radar: Don’t bother with it. Offshore almost everything is on AIS. Within 30 miles of the coast you are on watch in any case.
Food: You can provision the boat with all sorts of dry stores but in the end all you want is fresh food and your appetite is limited anyway so don’t take too much, it’s just dead weight. I returned with 24 cans of baked beans and ten tins of creamed rice.
Light v heavy? Albertine is quite a light boat; for big seas in the Atlantic a heavier boat might suit some people more.
Batteries: Find out as much as you can about what you have and how they work. Go for the most powerful ones you can find that fit your designated spaces.
Pilot: I got away with using the hydraulic autopilot but really you need something like the Hydrovane or Monitor (which I had on my previous boat and was a black art to master but superb once sorted out).
PredictWind: Absolutely brilliant. With this service you rarely navigate. It’s all about the optimum wind angle for the next 12 hours and the routing programme helps you work that out.
The Atlantic: Don’t forget it’s huge!
About the author
A former war correspondent, deputy foreign editor and deputy head of news at The Times, Ed Gorman now divides his time between writing and his responsibilities as editorial director of a sports management company.
First published in the January 2020 edition of Yachting World.
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